‘Kargil supports Kashmiris not Azadi’

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Asgar Ali Karbalai is the second and current chief executive councilor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil. He is an influential member of the socio-religious organization Imam Khomieni Memorial Trust, Kargil and is also affiliated with Indian National Congress. He is well known for his inspirational speeches. In an exclusive interview to Rising Kashmir’s Online EditorDaanish Bin Nabi he talks about discrimination faced by the people of Kargil and the relation between Kashmir and Kargil. Excerpts:


•    Central governments have always tried to project Ladakh as land of Lamas 
•    RSS wants to separate Leh from rest of Jammu and Kashmir 
•    Jammu was transformed into industrial city in last 24 years 
•    We face discrimination by GoI because we are Muslims 
•    Kargil-Skardu road has 100 percent zero security threat perception 
•    Shia-Sunni strife is because of western and Zionist conspiracy



·         How do you see Kargil-Kashmir relations?
Geographically and historically Kargil is a part of Kashmir therefore we cannot alienate Kargil from Kashmir.  As far economy is concerned everything comes to Kargil through Kashmir. The main lifeline we have is through Kashmir. So, economically we are dependent on Kashmir. But after independence till 1979 there was only one district in whole Ladakh and it was called Ladakh district. It’s headquarter was in Leh. During this period all the focus of government was Leh and Kargil got ignored on every front till 1979. When Kargil was declared district in 1979 then slight development also started to happen in Kargil. Then after 1999 when India-Pakistan war took place in Kargil it came to the limelight and people from all over world came to know that there is place on map of the world know as Kargil.
·         You generally accuse Kashmir of discriminating with Ladakh.
No, we are not accusing Kashmiris. It is basically the Leh people who have a step brother attitude towards Kargil. It is very unfortunate that the media of Jammu and Kashmir couldn’t differentiate between Kargil and Leh. Kargil is discriminated by the state as well the center government. Center government discriminated us because we are Muslims while state government discriminated because we are a Shia community. Central governments always have tried to project Ladakh as land of Lamas which is not true. While whole Ladakh has a majority of Muslims and not Buddhists, in Leh we can see everywhere the sign boards painted with welcome to the land of Lamas. It is Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) mindset who is behind all this. They want to separate Leh from rest of Jammu and Kashmir. Everywhere we see RSS statements were they say that there is only discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh. Be it Maha Sabah, Panun Kashmir, or Jammu Mukhti Morcha or even BJP they will never raise their voice for Kashmir or Kargil. While the truth is they don’t know what is Ladakh and where is Ladakh.
·         Why is their stark difference between Kargil and Leh as far as development and progress is concerned?
Till 1989 the main focus of government was Srinagar and up to some extent Jammu got ignored. But after 1989 when militancy started in Kashmir whole focus shifted from Srinagar to Jammu. So, in past 24 years maximum focus was on Jammu. Jammu which was a small town till then was transformed into big industrial city within no time. The same thing happened with Leh. Right from 1947 to 1979 Leh was the district headquarters and Leh was projected as whole Ladakh. Army headquarters, BRO headquarter and civil administration all were in Leh. Then in 1979 when we got our own Kargil district, state government started to give a slight attention to Kargil also but 1999 Kargil war changed the whole scenario.
·         How do you see the problems in Kashmir and why don't people of Kargil support it?
I think the main problem is sincere leadership for Kashmiri people. I met almost every sector of leadership and every Kashmiri leader curse the people of Kashmir and say we don’t have any faith on people of Kashmir. When a leader doesn’t have faith on its own people then how can one expect that they will lead people towards development? As far as support of Kargil people is concerned we have supported Kashmiri people in every sector and on every front except idea of Azadi.
·         Do you want Kargil to be part of India?
Yes, I want Kargil to remain part of India.
·         But separatism has a good base in valley. How do you see it?
Kargil people don’t support the idea of separatism. But at the same time we want to be a part of Kashmir. We don’t want Kargil should get separated from Kashmir.
·         What do you expect from Kashmiri leadership?
Our expectation from Kashmiri leadership is they should work sincerely and with utmost honesty. They should also see that ignored parts of Jammu and Kashmir should get their due share and attention.
·         Reopening of Kargil-Skardu is a demand of people of Kargil but nothing has been done. Do you pursue it?
Yes, we do pursue it. Both Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot roads have a security threat from Pakistan while Kargil-Skardu area has 100 percent zero security threat perception. I fail to understand why government of India is reluctant to open this road. It is totally a peaceful area. At least 5000 families are separated because of partition. As I said we have very less political power and influence, Kashmiri sell Kashmiri while Jammu people sell Jammu people that is why government of India and State government have opened Srinagar-Muzaffarad and Poonch-Rawlakot roads but did not open Kargil-Skardu while there is zero percent threat perception in that area.
·         What in your view is the best solution for Kashmir problem?
The best solution for Kashmir is that people should get due share in politics and developments. We should also see what the aspirations of youth are and should go with their view point. We should accommodate and accept our youth. In my view GoI and state government should have confidence, trust and have faith on people of Kashmir.
·         In recent parliamentary polls Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust Kargil and Islamia School Kargil fielded two separate candidates. This divided the Muslim votes and the rightwing BJP emerged successful. Why was there no coordination between Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust Kargil and Islamic School Kargil?
It is very unfortunate that both the institutions could not come on a common platform to contest parliamentary polls together. We have to have a consensus on a candidate who is acceptable to all sections of the society. But Islamia School outright rejected the proposal and also said that we are going to field a separate candidate may it be acceptable to you and people or not but we are going to field a separate candidate.  We kept on insisting for a common candidate but Islamia School was not ready to accept any proposal presented by Imam Khomeni Memorial Trust.
·         What was the impact of 1979 Iranian revolution within the Shia community here?
The 1979 Iranian revolution changed the whole scenario educationally, politically and economically. The revolution gave a boost to the people of Kargil that we can also stand against the oppressor. Revolution not only gave hope to Shia’s but to whole of Muslim Ummah.
·         How do you see the Shia-Sunni strife in Iraq and Syria?
All this Shia-Sunni conflict is because of western and Zionist conspiracy. Western world is afraid that if Muslims get united and if there will be political awakening of Muslims then the western imperialist world will crumble.
·         What are your views on ISIS?
ISIS and its head Abu Bakr Baghdadi is the creation of west. When Baghdadi was arrested in Iraq he was freed and then sponsored by the Americans. He was freed only to crush Zarqawai the Al-Qaeda chief in Iraq. He was trained by Israeli in Jordan. And now they are projecting ISIS as the whole Islamic Caliph of the Sunni world which is not true at all. He is destroying the Masjids and Mazhars(Shrines). He is crushing every Muslims who is not accepting their views be it Sunni or Shia they never differentiate.
·         What is your message for the Shia and Sunni community of Jammu and Kashmir?
We should strengthen our religion and unity. We should not fight on the basis of sects. We are Muslims and have same holy book that is Quran and same Qibla (direction) that is Kaaba. We have the same goal that is Islam. We should spread the real message of Islam that is peace. As Muslims we should be able to show real picture of Islam to the whole world.


Published at 17/08/2014 

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